Howard Johnson is the readers’ choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.
The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
Photo by K.S. Brooks
Ensquirreled
by Howard Johnson
Wow, what happened? That was quite a ride.
Examining myself I saw fur…lots of fur. I guess the better question would be, what am I?
A squirrel! It can’t be true.
A few minutes ago I was in my lab preparing to transfer my intelligence into a drone prototype for a search mission. Someone has stolen my plans for a new weapon system and I must find them. Evidently a squirrel passed in front of the transfer ray, and I am inside its brain. This can’t be good. Besides that, I’m now up in a tree.
Hearing leaves rustle below I looked down and saw a woman. It was Natasha. I would recognize her anywhere; long slender legs, jet black hair, the way here lip curls up just right. Focus on the mission lover boy. Those days are long gone. She has to be the one who stole the plans. I’ve got to follow her and retrieve the disk before its too late.
Let me get down from this tree. Uh oh. I can’t move. The transfer signals are clear, but nothings moving. Oh no! I’ve been ensquirreled; too much information not enough room. I am frozen in this body, and now I’m helpless.
Maybe I can use my mental telepathy to call a friend. There is only one individual I could trust at a time like this. The line’s ringing. On the other end someone says, “hello.”
“Bullwinkle this is Dr. Rocky Stanton. I need your help.”
Congratulations, Howard!
Congratulations. Nice story.